Convergence

The new word that is reverberating in the media industry is the word convergence.

The Wikipedia defined convergence as “The rise of digital communication in the late 20th century made it possible for media organizations (or individuals) to deliver text, audio and video material over the same wired, wireless or fiber-optic connections. At the same time, it inspired some media organizations to explore multimedia delivery of information.”

Convergence to me is a departure from the way things are being done in the media industry before, where individual media stick to one form or platform of disseminating information to its audience be it Radio, Television or Newspaper.

In Nigeria where I come from, almost every newspaper has its own website, where it publishes the news going out in its daily publication.

You can also watch items on demand meaning recorded dispatches from live telecasts.

Radio and Television stations are also in the habit of clipping some of their programmes and place them online for their listeners who missed it or may want to listen to it again.

With this now, Nigerians especially those living abroad can now follow events going on in the country and share their comment online which sometimes get published in the hard copy of the newspapers or get their views read on air in case of Radio and Televisions.

Convergence is indeed a positive development in the media industry in Nigeria.